(Gen. 37: 1 – 11)
1. He walked faithfully wherever he was.
Joseph was interested in the business of his father as a shepherd and
he served his father diligently. Jesus too was interested in His
Heavenly Father’s business. He said He must be about His father’s
business (Lk. 2:49). We must be determined to do whatever God has
committed to our hands, and we should be determined to do it well. Ps.
90:12 says “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. Also in Eph. 5: 15 – 16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. What
we do today determines what our tomorrow will be like. Make yourself
available to every opportunity you have. Maximize today and your
tomorrow shall be alright. We have to make every day count for
something.
2. He cultivated a good moral roadmap. Joseph knew his
purpose in life and even though he was under pressure from his brothers
and Portiphar’s wife to do wrong, he refused to compromise his faith in
God. He cultivated a good moral roadmap for himself with the help of God
and his father. We must be willing to stand with God even though we are
under pressure to please the world. To cultivate a good moral value, we
must live by God’s standard.
3. He sank his roots into the spiritual soil of God’s love.
God’s standard is always the same. He loves us unconditionally. Don’t
worry yourself about what people say about you but be mindful of God
says about you. Joseph refused to worry himself about his brothers’
hatred for him. He was more concerned with God’s love and the love of
his father towards him. We are a new creature in Christ and we enjoy His
love and get our worth from Him. It is not about our past or about our
future but about the love of God for us.
4. He pursued God’s purpose for his life. God has a
purpose for our lives. Purpose will give us passion. Joseph knew God’s
purpose for his life and he pursued it with passion. As we walk in the
way of The Lord, He will show His purpose in life. Jer. 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
5. He decided to be teachable. God took Joseph through
the difficult journey of life in order to acquire more experience. You
must be willing to change and take personal responsibility for your
growth. God will bring experiences and people your way to teach you and
you must be willing to appreciate them. Learn from every situation that
comes your way. Don’t waste your today. Let your love and your
understanding be in the knowledge of God.